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CHAPTER XVIII. 



CULTIVATION OF MADE GARDENS. 



As manuring, which is part of this, is treated separately, 

 we have here only to consider the best means of stirring the 

 soil to give air to the roots of the plants, and to keep down 

 weeds, which, if allowed, injure the yield vastly. 



Unless when plants are full grown and in full bearing (and 

 not even then unless they are planted close) it is not only not 

 necessary, but a waste of labour and money to open the soil 

 all over the garden with a view of stimulating or cultivating 

 the plants. Much money has been wasted in this way, for 

 instance, in a garden planted 6 by 6 or 6 by 5, and the plants 

 but two years old, I have seen the whole dug many times in 

 the year. The roots of the said plants did not protrude at 

 that age more than I foot or so, what good could they possibly 

 derive from the extra space dug ? 



The soil over the rootlets of Tea-plants cannot be stirred 

 too often. The oftener it is done the oftener the trees flush, 

 and when young the more vigorously will they grow. What 

 is the best way to do it ? 



I believe simply by digging round each plant. I go to show 

 why this is, I believe, the best. 



Putting aside the waste incurred in digging a whole garden 

 when not necessary, the way the soil is then dug near the 

 plants is, I think, objectionable. The ground is dug in a 

 straight line up to the plant ', and in doing so, if the digging is 

 deep, roots are very apt to be cut. Again, when the work is 

 task-work, the men shirk as much as possible digging close up 

 to the stems under the branches, and thus the soil, over much 



